TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), senior adviser to the Presidential Office, has been appointed chair of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association. 

In a Facebook post, Hseih pledged to “elevate” bilateral ties into a community of peace and prosperity, he said. “We must also build this virtuous cycle into a more resilient and concrete institutional framework that can be sustained and passed on,” he added. 

Hsieh previously served as Taiwan’s representative to Japan from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, relations improved significantly, CNA reported. He promoted bilateral agricultural trade and helped to ease pressure when China imposed sanctions on Taiwan’s agricultural sector.

Hsieh improved ties with local Japanese government ministers visiting all of Japan’s 47 prefectures more than five times each, per CNA. His efforts helped establish friendships or sister-city relationships between 178 local Taiwanese and Japanese governments. A total of 356 municipalities across Taiwan and Japan are now connected through such ties.

Taiwan was also able to rename its representative office from the Association of East Asian Relations to the Taiwan–Japan Relations Association in 2017.

Hsieh was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in November for his contributions to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Taiwan.